Weston scout’s bike collection is a big success

From left, Gerald Robert, Eagle Scout candidate James Rainone, Colin Ancalmo, Adam Iacaponi, and Jack Hurst refurbished more than 100 donated used bicycles at the Norfield firehouse recently to help with James’s Eagle Scout project.

Aspiring Eagle Scout James Rainone of Weston collected more than 100 bicycles over the course of two weekends in April, surpassing his expectations for the project.

As his Eagle Scout project, he chose to collect donated bicycles and repair them for use in local communities. He strove to provide transportation for adults who do not have a car and for kids whose families can’t afford to buy bicycles.

To make the project a success, James collaborated with Northeast Community Cycles (NECC), a community-based organization made up of volunteers from the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club.

It all culminated on May 11 when an eager crew of volunteers at the Weston firehouse worked for hours cleaning and repairing the collected bicycles. Boy Scouts and mechanics from the NECC worked hand in hand to breathe new life into the bicycles.

The organizations that benefited from the project were the Yerwood Center in Stamford, the Cardinal Sheehan Center in Bridgeport and the International Institute of Connecticut.